Quantitative Analyst (COMPASS Modeling)

A.I.S., Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 55,104 - 82,656; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vacation

Sick leave

Holiday benefits

Job summary

A.I.S., Inc. is seeking a Quantitative Analyst to support NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Fish Ecology Division, by developing and advancing the COMPASS model to evaluate stressors and management actions across fish life cycles.

The role involves heavy statistical and computational work, collaboration with regional managers, and open-science workflows. The position is full-time and requires field data work in West Coast waters; travel is anticipated.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in statistics, mathematics, fisheries, ecology, or natural sciences.
• 3+ years of experience.
• Excellent communication skills and report-writing experience.
• Strong quantitative skills including modeling and data analysis.
• Extensive experience in statistical analysis and modeling in R, with emphasis on coding in R.
• Familiarity with C or C++ in a scientific modeling context.
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license during the period of performance.
• Must pass a background investigation for public trust.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance the COMPASS model for river systems using statistical and quantitative modeling techniques.
• Construct and implement models evaluating survival and migration through hydropower systems.
• Collaborate with regional managers and researchers to organize data for modeling needs.
• Document and share workflows and analyses via open-science platforms (e.g., GitHub).
• Write reports, contribute to journals, and present results at meetings and conferences.
• Ensure analyses follow QA/QC and integrate modeling components into COMPASS and related life cycle models.
• Prepare status reports and ad hoc communications.
• Assist with field data collection in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore environments; outdoor work may be required.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Data analysis

R programming

C/C++ familiarity

Open science

Report writing

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Bayesian statistics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

R

Stan

JAGS

Linux (shell)

GitHub

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulations and collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS is looking for a Quantitative Analyst (Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) modeling) to support NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fish Ecology Division (FE).

Primary Function

The Quantitative Analyst supports the FED by developing and advancing the Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) model to evaluate the effects of stressors and management actions across fish life cycles in river systems. This position applies statistical modeling, computer modeling, quantitative ecological analysis, and other quantitative modeling techniques to produce management-ready products that inform ESA litigation responses, permitting decisions, and hydrosystem management for Pacific salmon in the Columbia River basin and other West Coast systems. This position is contingent upon contract award and available funding.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Develop and advance the Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) model for application in river systems to evaluate effects of stressors and management actions across fish life cycles using a combination of statistical modeling, computer modeling, statistical analysis, quantitative ecological analysis, and other quantitative modeling techniques.
• Construct and implement models evaluating survival and migration through the hydropower system (COMPASS model) to address requests by the West Coast Regional Office in support of ESA litigation and permitting.
• Collaborate with regional managers and researchers to structure, synthesize, and manage environmental and biological data relevant to modeling needs.
• Document and share reproducible research workflows and analytical products via open-science platforms (e.g., GitHub) so that others can easily interact with them and understand what was done.
• Write reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present results at regional and national meetings and scientific conferences, as needed.
• Ensure all analyses are conducted with accepted methods and QA/QC, and that modeling components are completed and integrated into COMPASS and life cycle models for the Columbia River basin, and others as needed.
• Prepare written status reports and other ad hoc communications as needed.
• Assist with field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region, as needed. This involves operating outdoors in sometimes harsh conditions in or around water, and may involve riding in vehicles and/or boats.

Compensation

Candidates will be paid an hourly rate to be negotiated, and total compensation will vary depending on depth of experience. This is a full-time position. AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to statistics, mathematics, fisheries, ecology, or the natural sciences.
• Three (3) or more years of experience
• Excellent communication skills, and experience writing reports and contributing to peer-reviewed articles.
• Strong quantitative skills including extensive experience in modeling and data analysis.
• Extensive experience executing statistical analysis and modeling in R, with an emphasis on strong skills coding in R.
• Familiarity interpreting or interfacing with C or C++ code within a scientific modeling context.
• Familiarity with common software used in the workplace such as Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high-quality work products efficiently.
• Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license during the period of performance.
• Must be able to pass a background investigation and be suitable for public trust classification prior to beginning performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related quantitative or natural science field.
• Experience with Bayesian statistical methods and mark-recapture analysis.
• Experience with Bayesian modeling programs Stan and JAGS.
• Computational experience utilizing command-line environments (e.g., Linux/shell scripting) for processing data.
• Experience with open science concepts and platforms.

Travel

• Travel is anticipated.
• Personnel may periodically be required to drive Government vehicles; when a Government vehicle is not available, mileage on a personal vehicle is reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.

Location

• 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112 (Northwest Fisheries Science Center) or at one of the science centers associated field stations.

Equal Opportunity

It is the policy of AIS to recruit, hire, train, promote, transfer and compensate employees and provide all other conditions of employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, lawful alien status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.